As soon as kitesurfing on flat water kite surfers goes well, the sea often starts to pull. Kiting on the wild sea is really different than on inland water. However, there are also kitesurfing spots by the sea that are mild, while other kite surfing locations by the sea sometimes have nice flat shallow parts at high tide. The switch from inland waterways to the sea is therefore really feasible. In this kitesurfing blog we help you take the step to kite surfing at sea.
Difficulty switching
Some kitesurfers have trouble making the transition from flat water to kitesurfing at sea. Not because they wouldn’t succeed. No, it is the step itself that resists taking. On the one hand, it can be related to tension or a little bit of fear. On the other hand, with habit. If you enjoy kitesurfing on inland waters, why try something else. People don’t easily step out of their comfort zone. Finally, travel distance can also play an important role. After all, not every kite surfer lives close to the coast.
10 tips for kite surfing at sea
We have prepared 10 tips for kitesurfing at sea. It doesn’t matter whether you want to start kiting your first meters at sea or have been kitesurfing at sea for a while and want to get better at it. If you follow these tips and principles, you can just have a lot of fun with kitesurfing at sea.
- Basic level kite surfing in order
- Do you have kitesurfing lesson had at sea. Then practice a few times on flat water until you can walk to both sides. In any case, you should be able to body drag and restart your kite if it were to crash. The sea is deep and generally the water is wilder than inland water. There is therefore a good chance that you will fall off your kiteboard. You must then be able to body drag to your kiteboard at sea. If the previous one is successful, you can in principle go back to sea. Grab your trusted one too kitesurf set† Even if you have the ambition to go wave kitesurfing later with a special surf / wave kite and ditto kite board at sea. Start with the kitesurfing equipment that you have become familiar and familiar with. This way you can better focus on things that are different on the beach and the sea from a familiar basis.
- Only kiting at sea with the right wind direction
- A favorable and safe wind direction. This applies to all places, but certainly by the sea. Read the options below.
- Safest: side-onshore wind. The wind blows diagonally towards the side. You will then leave, but you will always return.
- Less safe: side-shore wind† The wind blows parallel to the waterline. You can consider going, but be careful not to go too far out to sea. In this way you avoid having to pass the kite spot floats and therefore does not come ashore automatically.
- Sometimes safe: onshore / onshore wind† The wind is right on the side. You run the risk of being pulled over if something goes wrong. Is it far shallow but deeper than knee-depth? Then there is still a safe distance to the shore and you can kite.
- Not safe: offshore / offshore wind† The wind is blowing from the side. This is a no-go because if the wind is too strong or something goes wrong it can become impossible to get back ashore.
- Do the spot check on location
- There is a lot to read online about the different kitesurf locations by the sea. This information helps to orientate you but is not always up to date. Beaches also sometimes have seasonal rules.
- Therefore, view the instruction board of the municipality at the beach entrance. This gives you specific information and regulations about what is allowed and what is not.
- Also check out the sailing routes of other kite surfers. Is there a pattern in this because, for example, they always kitesurf in the same course? Then there may be a reason for this. Feel free to ask kite surfers who come off the water what their experience has been or for advice. Ask them if there are important things you need to know such as a row of posts that you don’t see at high tide but is there. This is often the best information.
- You should preferably go to a new spot with a buddy. If this doesn’t work, make contact with a few other kite surfers and ask if they want to be your buddies. More about this under point 5.
- Be familiar with the kitesurfing rules
- You don’t want to get into trouble at sea, and certainly not because of stupidity. Therefore, make sure that you have the kitesurf priority rules knows well. Of course, accident prevention is more important than the rules. But if everyone adheres to the rules, at least there are no collisions while kiting.
- Never go out to sea alone and do not start out on the open sea in winter
- No matter how long you drove. Don’t go out to sea alone. So you make sure you have a buddy with whom you go kitesurfing or stay close to other kitesurfers. It is not recommended to make the switch from kitesurfing from inland water to sea in winter. Also view special kitesurfing in winter† We recommend starting kitesurfing at sea from May, when the water and outside temperature is a lot more pleasant. Even very experienced kite surfers do checks and make a plan before they decide to go out to sea in winter.
- Choose the right time for the water start
- To set sail at sea you have to choose a good moment. It makes no sense to put on your kiteboard if a wave is close by and breaks. Then you are easily pushed around your kiteboard and you can start again. It is best to wait until a surf wave has passed. Then go straight into your foot straps and steer the kite. So you are kitesurfing before the next wave hits you.
Read the rest of these great tips in the original article on Kitesurfpro.
If you’re ready to give kiteboarding at sea a try for yourself, we offer private and groups lessons for every skill level and dozens of options for kiteboarding vacation packages including private lessons, group lessons, family package deals and more.
